MANILA, Philippines - Extending the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program (CARP) will be the best Christmas gift the government
can give to farmers this year, a senior Catholic bishop said Monday.
Manila auxiliary bishop Broderick Pabillo, who started a hunger strike
for the extension of CARP, said this could save the future of poor
people especially in rural areas.
"Just give it as a Christmas gift to them (farmers)," Pabillo, who also
chairs the National Secretariat for Social Action of the Catholic
Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, urged the lawmakers, in an
article on the CBCP
website.
Pabillo joined 17 farmers in a hunger strike in front of the House of
Representatives in Quezon City to press for immediate passage of a law
extending CARP with reforms.
Fr. Archie Casey, an Irish missionary, also joined the hunger strike.
Lipa archbishop Ramon Arguelles also pledged to fast in support of the
cause.
Pabillo said they are joining the farmers because no one in government
had been listening to them despite their months of protests.
He said Congress should act now, not next year, to pass CARP extension law with the necessary amendments.
"We demand that Congress pass the CARP extension law before it adjourns
on Wednesday. It's either now or never. We cannot expect lawmakers to
act on the measure in January next year," he said.
He said the CARP extension law should contain provisions relevant to
the needs and interests of the poor farmers, not of the rich and
privileged landowners.
"Lawmakers should never scrap the provision on land acquisition and
distribution because that is the very soul of CARP. Without it, there
is no reform, and there is no land for the farmers," he said.
He claimed the farmers will remain "dissatisfied and restless" if
Congress just extends CARP without the land acquisition and
distribution component.
For his part, Arguelles urged legislators to hold special session to pass the extension measure.
On the other hand, hundreds of other farmers were to hold mass protests
and vigils outside the Lower House until the extension law is passed.
Task Force Mapalad said that instead of "wasting valuable time" trying
to push Charter change, the lawmakers should focus on passing the CARP
extension law.
"The farmers do not need Charter change, they need CARP. We strongly
oppose Charter change because it will do away with the provisions
mandating the implementation of CARP," the group said.
"At the moment, we are happy with the present Constitution, but if some
people want to improve it, they can just propose amendments," it added.
December 23rd 2017, 4:01 pm by James307
Subject: Obispo nag-Hunger Strike 
